ALEX FERGUSON has stressed the importance of a successful Christmas period as Manchester United aim to crank up the pressure on title favourites Chelsea.

FINANCIAL expert Keith Harris last night warned the banks which funded the Glazer family’s Old Trafford takeover will be “sharpening their knives” following Manchester United’s shock Champions League exit.

ARSENAL are prepared to break their transfer record to ensure Arsene Wenger keeps one step ahead of Manchester United after posting their best ever financial results.

A LEADING football business analyst has rubbished claims Peter Kenyon can turn Chelsea into a "normal business" inside five years.

DAVID BECKHAM is set to wear the No 11 jersey at Real Madrid – after it was revealed he has agreed to fall in with the club’s policy on player sponsorship contracts.

GEORGE BEST was tonight back in the pub where he was said to have begun drinking again less than a year after his life-saving liver transplant.

THE transfer market is “dead” because no Barclays Premiership club truly believes it is capable of overhauling Chelsea, according to leading football business analyst Professor Tom Cannon.

DUTCH star Jan Kromkamp already feels at home at Liverpool, having helped inflict defeat on two of the club's main rivals.

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY has admitted it will take a long time to get over the sudden departure of Roy Keane from Manchester United.

THE STARK reality of Liverpool’s standing in the current football hierarchy was expressed in the bluntest of terms by Steven Gerrard, following this latest episode of frustration fourth place is the best that Gerard Houllier’s side can hope for.

MANCHESTER United boss Alex Ferguson has branded this season's loss of 14 points to the Premiership's lesser lights as 'unacceptable'.

ARSENE WENGER is convinced he was right to curtail his spending this summer — but he believes Chelsea’s £100 million outlay has automatically put them among the favourites for the Barclaycard Premiership title.

Manchester United 1 West Ham 0

BOLTON manager Sam Allardyce yesterday snapped up Brazilian striker Mario Jardel, and then received a further pre-season boost from another of his foreign stars, when Jay-Jay Okocha announced he will only play in competitive matches for Nigeria.

ARSENAL have been given a major boost ahead of their do-or-die Champions League second leg clash with Bayern Munich this week, after prolific Dutch striker Roy Makaay was ruled out due to a thigh injury.

CHELSEA hero Arjen Robben has warned Arsenal that Jose Mourinho’s side can handle the pressure which comes with being top of the table.

CYCLING legend Seán Kelly has been selected as Waterford’s greatest ever sporting hero. He came out top in the poll run by Waterford radio station WLR FM in conjunction with Anglo Irish Bank.

ARSENE WENGER admits the speculation surrounding Patrick Vieira's future is overshadowing Arsenals' pre-season preparations, but will continue talks with the French midfielder in a bid to keep him at Highbury.

ARSENE WENGER has warned Arsenal not to risk their title chances by resting on the laurels of their 16-game unbeaten league run against Chelsea this afternoon.